Cytotoxic Potential of Centaurea bruguierana ssp. belangerana: The MTT Assay.

The genus Centaurea with an extensive background in Iranian traditional medicine represents more than 70 species in Iran that some of them are endemic to Iran. A variety of secondary metabolites has been isolated from this genus thus far. Sesquiterpene lactones and flavonoids have been reported as main compounds of C.bruguierana. Methanolic extract and different fractions of the whole fruiting samples of Centaurea bruguierana ssp.belangerana (Asteraceae) were examined for cytotoxicity against various cell lines using MTT cytotoxicity assay in order to identify active fraction(s). The chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions of plant have demonstrated significant cytotoxicity against colon adenocarcinoma and breast ductal carcinoma cell lines, which chloroform fraction, exhibited the most potent in vitro cytotoxic activity against colon adenocarcinoma cell line, and therefore, can be considered as the potential fraction through main compounds of plant against the adenocarcinoma colon cancer cell line. Moreover, only chloroform fraction was moderately active against Swiss embryo fibroblast cell lines while the other fractions were nontoxic. To summarize, the chloroform fraction of C.bruguierana demonstrated better cytotoxic activity against all of the tested cell lines compared with the other fractions; and promisingly in some cases represented moderate to very good cytotoxicity that suggests more investigations about its phytochemical properties.

Pharmacological and histological effects of Centaurea bruguierana ssp. belangerana on indomethacin-induced peptic ulcer in rats.

The species Centaurea bruguierana (DC.) Hand.-Mazz. ssp. belangerana (DC.) Bornm. (CBB) (Asteraceae), known as "Baad-Avard" in Borazjan, Bushehr Province, southern Iran, is used in folk medicine as a hypoglycemic herb in diabetes and as a remedy for peptic ulcer disorders. Total 80% EtOH extract and petroleum ether, CHCl(3), EtOAc, n-BuOH, and remaining fractions obtained by solvent-solvent fractionation of dried aerial flowering parts of the plant were investigated for anti-ulcer activity against indomethacin-induced ulcerogenesis in rats. Anti-ulcer activity was evaluated by measuring the ulcer index (UI) and ulcer inhibition. The UI was significantly reduced in all treated animals. A dramatic decrease in the UI was observed following the administration of total extract (100 mg/kg, p < 0.001) and CHCl(3) fraction (42 mg/kg, ***p < 0.001) in comparison with the control group. The percentage ulcer inhibition with total extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg (97.66%) and CHCl(3) fraction at a dose of 42 mg/kg (96.96%) was found to be higher (p < 0.001) than the reference group (cimetidine 100 mg/kg) (87.08%). The pharmacological and histological results of the present study proved that the aerial flowering parts of CBB possess preventive activity against peptic ulcer, supporting the traditional assertion in southern Iranian folk medicine.